1
as in bland
lacking in qualities that make for spirit and character
a milk-and-water campaign speech that most likely did not inspire a single person
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weak
lacking strength of will or character
we need to elect a leader with a bold vision, not someone who's been a milk-and-water yes-man all his life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for milk-and-water
Adjective
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Once a go-to neutral, gray carpet has long since lost its charm; it's now linked to bland spaces that lack character.—
Marisa Suzanne Martin,
The Spruce,
7 Mar. 2026 -
This one came off bland, with a sauce that bordered on soupy rather than creamy.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The United States is, to her knowledge, the only country maintaining such a ban for nearly a century via Section 307 of the 1930 Tariff Act—even in its weaker form with the domestic consumption loophole.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
13 Mar. 2026
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Lessons from gold and small-caps The recent spike in oil prices has not resulted in spectacular gains for gold investors fueled by a weaker dollar, as was the case in 1973.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Mann might have argued that there is not only a moral but also an artistic virtue in being outwardly boring and banal.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
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More so, mines are too boring to compete for budget.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The team created a soft hydrogel made from chitosan, a naturally occurring polymer found in the shells of crustaceans.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
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If emotions surge, pause to write thoughts before speaking, then return with a softer tone so both sides feel heard and respected.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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These Kleenex tissue packs can be used for runny noses, watery eyes, and to wipe your mouth.—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
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His watery blue eyes, narrow-set and preternaturally unblinking, reveal nothing of the pressure bearing down upon him.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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If the Iranian regime survives in weakened form, Beijing will likely calibrate limited, deniable support while avoiding overcommitment.—
John Calabrese,
The Conversation,
6 Mar. 2026
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While most people recover fairly quickly from HMPV, people with weakened immune system or other medical conditions, or who are very young or old, are more likely to suffer serious illness, the Mayo Clinic said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Back-to-back insipid losses to Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest, which remain the low points of this campaign, had seen confidence on the terraces drain away.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
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Even the most insipid formulaic pop nonsense can induce that almost mystical reflection of life if your connections to the time of its airplay are meaningful.—
Jody Mamone,
Hartford Courant,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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As Siobhan Kirchstein stepped up to the counter of the Kansas Division of Vehicles last Thursday, she was struck by how banal the moment felt, even though the circumstances that brought her there felt far from ordinary.—
David Williams,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
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This sobering reality forced John to find peace with the twilight of his creative career and with his banal job at Honeywell.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Milk-and-water.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/milk-and-water. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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